[trudigale]

What is the difference between an African-American and a Black American?

[DebCsMom]

There is no difference. It's just that not all people who are "Black" are decendents of Africa. So some choose to be called or to call "Black" people Black Americans.
That's all, no difference.

Deb

[kllee4]

I believe that there IS a distinct difference. And that difference lies in how an individual identifies himself/herself. There are certainly groups of minorities who may identify with being "black" (for example, persons of Haitian, Jamaican, Antiguan roots, etc.) whose roots may not necessarily be from Africa, but native to another home country with people who still have pride in their heritage and identify themselves as part of the 'black" race. The terms to identify this particular group, of which I am blessed to be a part of, has evolved over the years from "colored" to "negro" to "black" and "African American". If I'm not mistaken, the term "black" became popular around the Civil Rights Movement in which many blacks wanted to instill pride in their race - for who they were, what they were contributing, the struggles that they faced being black in America and for what rights were being denied them. So, in essence, the pride aspect also encouraged a searching of ones roots, which inadvertently lead back to their ancestors in Africa. Many blacks refer to themselves as African American based upon their roots in Africa and their current roots in America. Many use both terms interchangeably but I believe that it is truly a personal choice as to what each individual references in regards to their race, be it "black" or "African American".

I hope this helps. I am by no means, an expert, but wanted to clarify my feelings on the subject! If I have in any way offended anyone, please accept my apology.
kllee

[roxanna425]

Haitian's, Jamaican's and Anitguan's would all be West Indian's wouldn't they? I am from South Florida where we have many West Indians and we (I am Cuban) usually identify with their home country first then with whatever ethnicity they came from (East Indian, African, Spanish) next then lastly as a racial category, Black. However given the fact that on many islands there was a lot of race mixing "creole" would be the correct term.

[kllee4]

Roxanna425,
I totally agree with you about West Indian heritage. My best girlfriend is from Jamaica and she identifies as being West Indian and black (here in the US but simply Jamaican when she travels home to visit family). I think the interchageable terms are more of an American thing since in other cultures and countries, there is a wide variety of references to a person's background (race/ethnicity). Not simply what someone looks like, since that could be totally misleading, but to what particular group a person identifies with on a personal level (which may or not be separate from what society may label them as). I know that there has been much debate over using race for "statistical purposes" in which a lot of persons of mixed heritage may find it annoying at best and offensive at worst to have to be reduced to a "box" that is checked on a form. Since many of us do not fit any particular category when it comes to our race/ethnicity, then it seems pointless.

I guess I never thought about black vs. African American. I know that my grandmother at times will refer to herself as a "young black girl from the South" but will not refer to herself as African American since, as she says, "I've never been to Africa". I have used both terms to describe myself, however. kllee

[Hoping4More]

Just wanted to clarify something. I am of Haitian, have lived in the US for over 30 years and call myself either Haitian American or African American. Klee stated "There are certainly groups of minorities who may identify with being "black" (for example, persons of Haitian, Jamaican, Antiguan roots, etc.) whose roots may not necessarily be from Africa".
All Blacks, whether they be Haitian, Jamaican, Antiguan, etc., are of African descent. The country of origin does not matter.